Heat pipe-attached heat sink with bottom radiation fins

ABSTRACT

A heat pipe-attached heat sink includes a radiation fin module having a plurality of radiation fins arranged in parallel, each radiation fin having an extension abutment strip, each extension abutment strip having a flat abutment edge extending perpendicular relative to the respective radiation fin and a plurality of locating grooves located on the flat abutment edge, heat pipes respectively press-fitted into the locating grooves of the extension abutment strips each having a flat heat-absorbing face kept in flush with the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins, a bonding agent applied to the locating grooves of the radiation fins to bond the heat pipes to the radiation fins, and stop blocks fastened to the radiation fins and stopped against the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins at one side to reinforce the structural strength.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heat sink technology and moreparticularly, to a heat pipe-attached heat sink with bottom radiationfins, which uses a bonding agent to bond heat pipes to locating groovesof radiation fins and to keep the heat-absorbing face of each heat pipein flush with a flat abutment edge of an extension abutment strip ofeach radiation fin for direct contact with the heat source.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A conventional heat pipe attached heat sink is known comprising: aradiation fin module, one or a number of heat pipes and a metal bottomblock. During application, the bottom block is kept in direct contactwith the heat source, enabling waste heat to be transferred by thebottom block to the radiation fins of the radiation fin module throughthe heat pipe(s) for quick dissipation. This design of heat sinkutilizes the bottom block, the heat pipe(s) and the radiation fin moduleto transfer heat in proper order. However, this heat transfer method hasa low heat dissipation speed and performance. There is known anotherprior art heat sink design, which eliminates the use of a metal bottomblock and has the heat-absorbing end of each heat pipe be directlypress-fitted into a respective mounting groove on each of a number ofradiation fins. After connection between heat pipes and radiation fins,heat pipes are kept flattened and kept in parallel for direct contactwith the heat source for quick transfer of waste heat from the heatsource to the radiation fins for quick dissipation. According to thisdesign, the radiation fins are not directly kept in contact with thesurface of the heat source for direct dissipation of waste heat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a heatpipe-attached heat sink, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaidvarious prior art designs.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a heatpipe-attached heat sink comprises a radiation fin module, whichcomprises a plurality of radiation fins arranged in parallel, eachradiation fin comprising an extension abutment strip having a flatabutment edge extending perpendicular relative to the respectiveradiation fin and a plurality of locating grooves located on the flatabutment edge, the flat abutment edge of one radiation fin being stoppedagainst the flat abutment edge of another said the radiation fin in aflush manner, a plurality of heat pipes respectively press-fitted intothe locating grooves of the extension abutment strips of the radiationfins each having a flat heat-absorbing face kept in flush with the flatabutment edges of the radiation fins of the radiation fin module, and abonding agent applied to the locating grooves of the radiation fins tobond the heat pipes to the radiation fins. Further, the heat pipes areperipherally and tightly abutted against one another. As the flatheat-absorbing faces of the heat pipes are kept in flush with the flatabutment edges of the radiation fins of the radiation fin module, theheat pipes and the radiation fins can be directly attached to the heatsource for quick dissipation of waste heat from the heat source.

Further, the bonding agent can be tin solder or any suitable materialhaving high heat transfer coefficient.

Further, stop blocks may be fastened to the radiation fins and stoppedagainst at least one of two opposite lateral sides of the flat abutmentedges of the radiation fins of the radiation fin module to reinforce thestructural strength.

Further, the stop block comprises a plurality of retaining grooves andretaining ribs located on the bottom side thereof and forced intoengagement with the radiation fins. Further, each stop block has a topend edge kept in flush with the flat heat-absorbing faces of the heatpipes and the flat abutment edges of the radiation fins of the radiationfin module for direct contact with the heat source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational view of a heat pipe-attached heat sinkin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the heat pipe-attached heat sink inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken, in an enlarged scale, along line B-Bof FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken, in an enlarged scale, along line A-Aof FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view of the heat pipe-attached heat sinkin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, illustrating a rectangular form of thelocating grooves.

FIG. 7 is an assembly view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 4 illustrating another alternate form of thelocating grooves of the radiation fins.

FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 4 illustrating still another alternate formof the locating grooves of the radiation fins.

FIG. 10 is an oblique elevation of an alternate form of the heatpipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a top view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an oblique elevation of another alternate form of the heatpipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an oblique elevation of still another alternate form of theheat pipe-attached heat sink in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a heat pipe-attached heat sink with bottomradiation fins in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention is shown comprising at least one radiation fin module 10, atleast one, for example, a number of heat pipes 20, and a bonding agent30.

The radiation fin module 10 consists of a plurality of radiation fins 1arranged in parallel. Each radiation fin 1 comprises an extensionabutment strip 11, as shown in FIG. 4. The extension abutment strip 11comprises a flat abutment edge 12 perpendicularly disposed at one oreach of opposing top and bottom sides and a plurality of locatinggrooves 13 located on the flat abutment edge 12 for accommodating heatpipes 20. When the radiation fins 1 are arranged together, the flatabutment edge 12 of one radiation fin 1 is abutted against that ofanother radiation fin 1.

The heat pipes 20 are accommodated in the locating grooves 13 of theradiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 and tightly abuttedagainst one another side by side without leaving any gap between eachtwo adjacent heat pipes 20, each having a flat heat-absorbing face 201kept in flush with the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 ofthe radiation fin module 10.

The bonding agent 30 is applied to the locating grooves 13 of theradiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 to bond the heat pipes20 to the radiation fins 1. The adhesive 30 can be tin solder or thermaladhesive.

During installation, the bonding agent 30 is applied to the locatinggrooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10, andthen the heat pipes 20 are attached to the locating grooves 13 andabutted against one another side by side keeping the flat heat-absorbingface 201 of each heat pipe 20 in flush with the flat abutment edges 12of the radiation fins 1 of the radiation fin module 10 for directcontact with the heat source to facilitate quick dissipation of wasteheat from the heat source.

Further, stop blocks 4 may be bonded to the radiation fins 1 of theradiation fin module 10 and stopped against the flat abutment edges 12of the radiation fins 1 at one or each of two opposite lateral sides toreinforce the structural strength. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each stopblock 4 has a plurality of retaining grooves 41 and a plurality ofretaining ribs 42 located on the bottom side thereof for engagement withthe radiation fins 1, enhancing connection stability. This stop blockmounting design is simply an example but not a limitation.

Referring to FIG. 5, the aforesaid stop blocks 4 are stopped against theflat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 at one or each of twoopposite lateral sides to reinforce the structural strength, each havingan end edge 43 kept in flush with the flat heat-absorbing faces 201 ofthe heat pipes 20 and the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1of the radiation fin module 10 for direct contact with the heat sourceto facilitate quick dissipation of waste heat from the heat source. Whendesired, the elevation of the end edge 43 of each stop block 4 can beset lower than the elevation of the flat heat-absorbing faces 201 of theheat pipes 20 and the flat abutment edges 12 of the radiation fins 1 ofthe radiation fin module 10.

The number of the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 of theradiation fin module 10 is determined subject to the number of the heatpipes 20. Further, the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1 maybe variously configured. For example, the locating grooves 13 can bemade having a smoothly arched bottom wall (see FIG. 4). Further, abottom notch 131 may be located on the bottom side of the locatinggroove 13 of each radiation fin 1 for the filling of the bonding agent30 into the locating groove 13 rapidly. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate anotheralternate form of the locating grooves 13 of the radiation fins 1.According to this alternate form, the locating grooves 13 have arectangular cross section for accommodating flat rectangular heat pipes20.

The aforesaid bottom notch 131 is not requisite and can be omitted. Asillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bonding agent (tin solder) 30 can bedirectly applied to the inner wall of the locating groove 13 of each ofthe radiation fins 1 for the bonding of the heat pipes 20. The design ofthe aforesaid bottom notch 131 is for the filling of the bonding agent30 that is selected from a material having high heat transfercoefficient.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the use of a different form of heat pipes 20a. According to this application example, the heat-discharging end 202of each heat pipe 20 a is curved and turned back and then inserted intothe radiation fin module 10 a again.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate still another alternate form of the presentinvention. According to this embodiment, the heat-discharging ends 202of the heat pipes 20 a extend out of the radiation fin module 10 andthen inserted into a second radiation fin module 10 b, constituting adual fin module heat sink combination.

FIG. 14 illustrates still another alternate form of the presentinvention. According to this embodiment, the heat-discharging ends 202of the heat pipes 20 a extend out of the radiation fin module 10 c intwo reversed directions and then inserted into the radiation fin module10 c again.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A heat pipe-attached heat sink, comprising: a radiation fin module,said radiation fin module comprising a plurality of radiation finsarranged in parallel, each said radiation fin comprising an extensionabutment strip, said extension abutment strip comprising a flat abutmentedge extending perpendicular relative to the respective radiation finand a plurality of locating grooves located on said flat abutment edge,the flat abutment edge of one said radiation fin being stopped againstthe flat abutment edge of another said radiation fin in a flush manner;a plurality of heat pipes respectively press-fitted into the locatinggrooves of said extension abutment strips of said radiation fins of saidradiation fin module, each said heat pipe comprising a flatheat-absorbing face kept in flush with the flat abutment edges of saidradiation fins of said radiation fin module; and a bonding agent appliedto said locating grooves of said radiation fins to bond said heat pipesto said radiation fins.
 2. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimedin claim 1, wherein said heat pipes are peripherally and tightly abuttedagainst one another.
 3. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said bonding agent is selected from tin solder or amaterial having high heat transfer coefficient.
 4. The heatpipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, further comprising aplurality of stop blocks fastened to said radiation fins and stoppedagainst at least one of two opposite lateral sides of said flat abutmentedges of said radiation fins of said radiation fin module.
 5. The heatpipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said stopblock comprises a plurality of retaining grooves and retaining ribslocated on a bottom side thereof and forced into engagement with saidradiation fins.
 6. The heat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim4, wherein each said stop block has a top end edge kept in flush withthe flat heat-absorbing faces of said heat pipes and the flat abutmentedges of said radiation fins of said radiation fin module.
 7. The heatpipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each saidradiation fin further comprises a bottom notch located on a bottom sideof each locating groove thereof for the filling of said bonding agentinto the associating locating groove.
 8. The heat pipe-attached heatsink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat pipe has a heatdischarging end extending out of said radiation fin module and thenturned back and inserted into said radiation fin module again.
 9. Theheat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each saidheat pipe has a heat discharging end extending out of said radiation finmodule and then inserted into an external radiation fin module.
 10. Theheat pipe-attached heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heatpipes each have a heat discharging end extending out of said radiationfin module in one of two reversed directions and then turned back andinserted into said radiation fin module again.